Umbilical truss



March 10, 1964 A. J. COATES UMBILICAL TRuss Filed Feb. 5, 1962 Il. l

INVE'N TOR.

United States Patent O 3,124,128 UMBILICAL TRUSS Alma I. Coates, 6030 Morgan St., Alexandria, Va.

Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 170,986

1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-106) The present invention relates to trusses and more particularly to an umbilical truss for an infant.

The prior art trusses used for a ruptured umbilical cord have generally used a tape drawn tightly across the navel region, stomach and sides of the infant. This type of truss is capable of supplying the necessary support to the umbilical cord, but it was found to be very diicult to properly apply and also very dicult to remove. The infants skin under the tape will often become red and sore if the tape is left on for several days. Once the truss is removed, it is thrown away and a new one must be used to replace it.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide an umbilical truss for an infant that will provide a good support for the ruptured umbilical cord which may be easily put on or taken oif the infant. The truss of this invention may be removed for washing or cleaning and reused for a long period of time, thus reducing the overall expense of caring for the ruptured condition.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved umbilical truss capable of providing the necessary support for a ruptured umbilical cord.

Another object is to provide a truss for a ruptured umbilical cord that may be worn for long periods of time without adverse elects to the person wearing it.

A further object is to provide a truss for a ruptured umbilical cord that may be easily put on or taken off and yet provide sufficient pressure to the umbilical cord to correct the ruptured condition.

Still another object is to provide an umbilical truss having a variable small discrete locking device so that the pressure on the umbilical cord may be varied to a cornfortable position for the person wearing the truss.

Yet another object is to provide an umbilical truss for an infant that will not slip out of position due to normal movements of the child.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved truss that may be readily washed or cleaned and be reused.

Further objects and the entire scope of the invention will become further apparent in the following detailed description and in the appended claim. The accompanying drawings display the general construction and operational principles of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that the drawings are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the umbilical truss constructed in according with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the truss pad taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the truss taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a modication of the truss in FIG. l with another locking member.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate the preferred components, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, there is disclosed in FIG. 1 the new and improved umbilical truss 11.

The truss is constructed of a one piece elastic fabric 12 with non-elastic fabric pieces sewn or mounted thereon in a manner well known in the art. The support for the ruptured umbilical cord is mounted on one side of the one piece fabric 12 substantially as shown in FIG. 1. The

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support is a metallic disk 14 approximately the size of a silver dollar. The metallic disk 14 is located in a pocket 15 sewn onto one side of the fabric 12. The pocket 1S is slightly larger than the metal disk 14. The top flap 16, as shown in the drawing, is sewn to the elastic fabric 12 along the outside edges 17. The bottom flap 18, as shown in the drawing, is also sewn onto the elastic fabric along the outside edges 19 and substantially overlaps the top ilap. The common overlapping position of each flap allows the metallic disk to be removed so that the truss may be washed or cleaned without fear of the metal disk tarnishing or rusting onto the adjacent material. If the metallic disk 14 is aluminum or silver, the disk may be sewn in place. The pocket 15 is just large enough to hold the metallic disk with very little room for the disk to move, The pocket allows the disk to be easily removed but it will never allow the disk to fall or drop out. By placing the pocket and the meallic disk on the inside of the elastic fabric, it can be easily seen that more pressure will be applied to the area covered by the metallic disk than the adjacent areas, thus providing support to the ruptured cord. The cloth flaps are sewn onto the elastic cloth, thereby limiting and distributing the stretching force to both sides of the laps. This allows the metallic disk to be pressed evenly against the ruptured navel at all times. On each end of the band is a portion of a locking mechanism 20 for discretely locking the truss in position with the proper tension. The body dimensions of a child will vary from day to day and may vary from hour to hour. The elastic cloth will take up part of this variation as the body around the navel expands or contracts. However, the locking mechanism 20 provides a unique method of minutely adjusting the band daily as the child is growing. The locking mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 1 is a Talon zipper. The locking portion 21 of the Zipper 20 is held in place on one end of the band by a cloth loop 22 tapered by folding to iit in the eyelet 23 of the locking portion 21. The ends of the cloth loop 22 is doubled several times and sewn onto the irst end of the elastic cloth as shown in FIG. 3. This provides a very etfective stay 23 that is flexible enough not to gouge the child during normal movements. This design also evenly distributes the tension force over the width of the band.

The zipper cleats 24 are sewn onto the center along the second end of the elastic cloth. Both sides of the zipper material to the edge of the band are covered with a nonstretchable cloth 25 which is sewn in place. On each end of the zipper is a cloth stay 26 that has several thicknesses of material which has been stitched into position. The stay 26 between the cleats and the metallic disk helps distribute the tension force evenly to the elastic cloth to which it is attached. The cloth stay 26 at the second end helps keep the zipper straight while the lock portion 21 is being pulled into position. By this unique locking mechanism, the proper supporting pressure can be applied to the ruptured umbilical cord as needed.

By utilizing a single broad band that has an elastic cloth at the sides, the body movements will be compensated for without cutting into the soft flesh of the stomach and ribs. This insures that the belt may be worn for long periods of time in complete comfort without fear of excessive pressure of the umbilical cord. Removable shoulder straps 27 may be attached to the truss substantially as shown. These straps provide an additional means of holding the truss in place if the child is eX- tremely active or if the body configuration is such that the truss will not otherwise stay in position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modication of the locking mechanism in which a heavy duck material 28 is used to adjust the pressure of the truss. The duck material is made into a broad belt 29 which has been tapered. The belt is passed through a slot 31 in the buckle 32. In the locking position a ribbed cam member, not shown, in the buckle 32 is rotated against the duck material 28 wedging it between lthe cam member and the buckle, securely holding it in position. The buckle is designed to be located in the area of the kidney to avoid discomfort when laying the child on its back, but sufficiently to the rear so that it cannot be taken off by the child. For older children or adults, additional cloth stays may be inserted to keep the elastic cloth from foldingover during body movements. `Such stays may be installed in a manner heretofore described.

From the foregoing, the advantages of this new and improved truss will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The truss may be fitted onto a child quickly and easily. The metallic disk being placed over the point of rupture, and the band being drawn snugly against the body by the locking mechanism, will provide a firm pressure for the ruptured umbilical cord. The band cannot be loosened by normal body movements and anysudden violent movements will not put additional unwanted pressure on the rupture. The child cannot intentionally unlock the truss while playing since it is located in an area that is diflicult for the child to reach. Thus it can be seen that the truss may be worn comfortably for many hours without fear of it slipping or cutting into the flesh. As it becomes soiled with extended use, it may be washed or cleaned and put back on. Any shrinking or stretching of the material is compensated for by the locking mechanism as it is placed into position. Thus, it is apparent that the body movements will not interfere with the support provided by the truss nor with its comfort While being worn.

Obviously, many modifications and Variations of the present invention are possible in the Alight of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimedis:

A unitary truss for maintaining pressure on a ruptured umbilical cord comprising a single relatively Wide unitary elastic band having a rst end and a second end thereof, a pocket secured to the inner side of said band, a metallic disk located in the pocket, said disk being substantially the same size as the pocket and said pocket containing a flap overlapping the end of the pocket, a discrete locking means for minutely varying the size of the band by varying the overlap of said rst and second ends, said locking means comprising a row of zipper cleats positioned longitudinally along the band near said first end and the locking portion located on said second end and having a pivoted member for engaging the zipper cleats in varying positions of adjustment so that the locking means may be easily and readily adjusted while said first and-second ends of the band remain in an overlap position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,268 Kepley Apr. 22, 1884 522,764 Nagler Iuly l0, 1894 649,646 Plum May 15, 1900 977,098 Kayser Nov. 29, 1910 1,560,418 vGraham Nov. 3, 1925 1,612,121 Hittenberger Dec. 28, 1926 1,637,130 Ray July 26, 1927 2,658,509 Aidukovich Nov. 10, 1953 2,825,111 Statham Mar. 4, 1958 -FOREIGN PATENTS 885,462 Germany Aug. 6, 1953 

